Folding type-writer.



E. KRUSIUS.

FOLDING TYPE WRITER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 1918.

T amvavm/a Edvard Imam A Tron/ms E. KRUSIUS.

FULDNG TYPE WRITER.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 8. Hill].

WI TNESSES Patented Nov. 12, 1918..

S SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR [diva/d #1141114:

' ATTORNE E. KRUSIUS.

FOLDING TYPE WRITER.

APPucAnon FILED MAY 8. 19m.

1,284,714. Patented Nov. 12,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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/7 l 5 J @236 I I J V q WITNESSES J9 T -"f llwmron HrmdM'w/ks a 7 Sr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD KRUSIUS, NEW YORK, N. Y.

FOLDING TYPE-WRITER.

Patented Nov. 12. 1918. Serial No. 2533.280.

1 284,714. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 8. 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Enwnno Knusms, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York. borough of Manhattan, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Folding Typed/Vriter, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to typcwriting mnchines and has particular reference to machines of this character that are adapted for the greatest convenience in transportation or traveling, and to this end the machine is made so as to fold into the smallest possible space.

Among the distinct objects of the improvement is to provide a frame or base jointed or hinged transversely so as to fold so that the front portion thereof may fold upward around a horizontal axis parallel to the keyboard.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved locking means to hold the base in rigid flat operative position, but providin for the upward folding as just describe Another object of the invention is to provide facilities in a foldable frame structure for locating the capital and figure shifting key levers as well as the marginal stop re lease and back spacing, lever in line with the usual or standard keys so that all of the keys or levers will be arranged in the smallest possible number of rows alone, the keyboard.

A still further object is to provide an improved foldable space key lever holder.

A still further object is to provide a jointed or foldable arm for the capital or figure shifting key levers.

With the foregoing: and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the exact details of construction disclosed or suggested here in, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical'embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of sufficient of a typcwriting machine to illustrate the fold able keyboard portion, parts being in normal operative position.

Fig.1. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view about on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. .L is a vertical sectional on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing particularlv the releasing of the matically when the keyboard is brought down in operative osition.

Fig. fi-gia side elevation of the kevboard folded u ard and indicating the automatic action of the locking bar to hold the kev' levers from displacement when tilted up ward and also indicating the folding action of the lever associated with the capital and .fi ure shift levers.

Fig, 5, is an inverted perspective view of a detai indicating especially the automatic catch mt in flat operative position, the view, however, incldicating the folded position of the parts; an

Fig. 7 is a detail view indicating the folding lever associated with the capital and figure shift keys.

In illustrating my new devieesI indicate certain parts similar to'corresponding parts of a well known type of typewriter to which my improvements are especially adapted to cooperate, but it is to beunderstood that I do not intend to be limited or restricted in the use of my improvements with any par ticular type of machine.

The main part of the base frame be of any style or design to correspond with the general type of the machine, and with the particular i'neehanism supported upon the central or rear portions thereof I am not at the present time especially concerned.

At the front edge of the base 10 I provide uprights or standards 11 in which are fitted co-axial pivots 12. 13 indicates the keyboa rd extension of the base 10 the same being provided with uprights or standards 14 shown as lying between the standards 11 and mounted upon the pivots, stituting the axis around which the keyboard extension 13 is adapted to fold up ward into a position approximately perpendieular to the base 10.

With reference now especially to I i 2' and 6 I point out the construction and operation of the improved automatic catch means for holding the keyboard extensionilB fiat and rigid in operative osition. The front corner portions 15 of tlie base 10 are provided with grooves 16 intoeaeh of which detail about locking bar auto- 7 ans for locking the keyboard down 10 may the pivots 12 con a finger 17 constituting a rearward exten- I sion of the extension frame 13 is adapted to project in the fiat position as shown in Fi 2- whereby the frame and its extension as a whole is made exceedingly rigid. In other words even though the pivots 12 might be somewhat loose the fingers 17 fit into the grooves 16 rendering it impossible for any reedom of movement between the frame parts 10 and 13. 18 indicates a catch operatin in a plane parallel to and just below the pfime of one of the grooves 14; and adapted to oscillate around a vertical pivot 19. This catch includes a hook :20 at one end which lies normally over the finger 17 between it and the groove 16, the catch occupying this position by virtue of an expansion spring "21 acting between one of the rigid feet 22 of the main frame 10 and thc linger piece 23 at the opposite end of the catch from the hook. The finger piece as indi cated in Figs. 1 and 2 is accessible on one side of the frame whereby when it is pl't-ssctl inward compressing the spring the hook will be released or withdrawn from a pin 24' carried by the linger 1T. sition of Fig. l the end of thc fingcr IT coming into or toward the groove to will first st'rrk 1 against the rounded cam edge of thc of a circle aiound the pivot 12 and the,

hook 20 is swinging in a similar arc on its pivot 19 the hook passes over the diagonal corner and wipes over the portion 25 of the finger so that the. free end of the linger 17 will not be obstructed in its movement into the groove 16. By the time the fiugcr is nested in its groove the hook will be lying liat olrthc outside of the finger and in position to swing around the pin 24' as shown in Fig. .2. The catch has a tail piece 26 which striking against the foot will limit the outward movcmcnt ol' the lingcr piccc.

23 in the idle or unlocked position of the device.

The standard key levers 27 are shown pivolcd upon knilc edgehcarings 28 fol-the sake of lightest possiblc action. 'lhc kcy lcvcrs arc projcctcd forwnl'd through the nutical slots 29 ot' the bar 30 atthc front edge of the frame extension 13 and are adapted to have contact adjacent to their rear ends through the lugs 31 with a universal bar 32. So far as now described the lovers 2? are more or less free to slip into or out of nor; mal operative position and so when the keyboard is folder] or bent upward some means must be provided to pr went the accidental shifting or dropping out of place of thcse key levers. To accomplish this result. therefore, I provide what I tcrm a locking bar 33 which lies over the key levers and in spaced From the po-t parallel relation thereto as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 when the machine is in operation. T his bar is shown as lying preferably over the upper edge of a comblike rib 34 having vertical slots in which the rear ends of the levers operate. The ends of the bar 33 are indicated at 35 as projecting downward through pairs of vertically alined guides or kccpcrs 36 fixed to the rear walls of the hinge standards l-l. Each of the ends 35 of the bar 33 is provided between the keepers 36 with a fixed lug 37 between which and the upper keeper 36 is located a spring 38 acting downward against the lug 37 and so tending to carry the adjacent end35 of the bar in the same direction. Comparing now Fig. 4 with Figs. fraud (3 it will be noted that when thc machine is folded the springs 38 act to throw the lugs 37 toward or against the lower kccpcrs 36 bringing the bar 33 dircctl v against the upper edges of the lovers 27, the points of the end portion 35 of the bar at such time projecting well beyond the undcr surface of the frame extension 13. This action of the springs 38 takes place immediately alter thc cxtcnsion 13 starts onits upward folding movement so that there is no possibility for any key levers to drop out of placc from the knife edge bearing supports 28 whcn the frame is folded. When the keyboard is brought back again, howcvcr, to its horizontal or operative-position, and coincidentally with the automatic action of the locking catch to hold it in locking position as already described the points of the cud portions 35 strike and Wipe against lhc uppcr surfaces of a pair of fingers 3!) lixcd to and.pro'jecting forward adjacent to thc inner cdges of the corner extcnsion 15 ol. the base 10 and so with the locking of the extension in place the looking bar 33 will be automatically released, against the force of the springs. from contact. with the key levers 27. It will thus be seen that all the operator has to do in bringing the keyboard extension down into open tive position is simply to grasp it and swing it around its pivots l2.

in order to conserve the greatest amount of spat-c the frame cxtension 13 is not pro vided with a rigid foot. but in lieu thereof providc a gravity opcl'atcd foot it) having upwardly dircctcd parallel extensions 4]. pivoted coaxially at 42 on lugs 43 constituting a part of thc cxtcnsion 13. The foot 40 direction away from its folded position. hilltl corners or shoulders striking against the main part of the frame extension.

The epaee key lever holder eoinprisee a.

fr me H having two t'or\\'ari"y' projecting" arms 4.) aid 46, the rear ends of the arms being eoaxially pivoted at U not far remote from the axis of the pivots +2. The l'ront. ends of the :lltIiH 4? and i i are ,-ro\ided with bottom big l8 agaimt nhieh 1i pair oi lingers it) pivoted waxiallv of eaeh other at to the rwpertive arms is) and it), are adapted to hear in. prartire. the pivots :J l being at the rear of thiinns $8. The lingers l9. howrier, whieh srtpport, the tvlHlCt'i bar 51. are free to swing upward and inward aroni'nl the photo 530 into the folded position as indiraied in Fig.

The eapiial and lignre rhi'i't he): are indi ,Oflied at -53 and -5 at the left side of the lL-yb -ird while the marginal stop rela-aoe am the barn \paee lieva are indicated at Til and ll f n Iiz iii i i h of tilt liel'lioillfl. llirw v\i-ie al i\I being loc-ated in aline livid With iiir otandard rows oi" hove indi- (tititl generally at 5!]. ilioi'e twine: provided onl three lows of lfl'fl's in this part ieniar machine. Thiarrangement oi keys and aeeessories therefore adapts-i itself with peculiar favor to the i tiltlll'igdfi the maehine into the smallest possible space.

While the rear or inner ends of the standard key levers may not extend sitllieientlv far beyond the veil'iral plane of the pivots l! to interfere with the folding movem nt, of the keyboard an shown in Fig. ii. it i to b nol d that th loo;- 118 and upon a vert cal pioneer at aioil {he ee'i ter oi oscillat on oi a type Pawn-i1 shown} and in we at :i i 'iiEw-riil'ili'rl'd diislan e bat-l: ol' he I pr l ne oi he Frame 'ihr several tom {now of the in are and 7i, [hoe arriid in o e 'i'i'i-r by 7l:t"ii|.'-- o'lan arm 58 her or otherwie lived to a horizontal llH'iC alniil fit? lnnt bail of the :ilott-d ri 3i. airing i i-lll'l i tliillthe rook shaft 531) and la so anrhorrd at one end as to vanalloomioaite end thereof an indirzilrd at ii to hear downv 'ard upon tin arm t3! indirates a huh notion-d upon the rock shalt 5.) between the anguiarlv shaped ends of the iow-rw 52 and :I-i and provided with a rroos pin l held moi-mall ag 'aimt the rear edges oi the oiikrt portionoi the ll'\ l'l'-i h \irlne ol' th spring tit). 7 m bin. T The upward tbrov. oi h h-vew I12! and o ia limited by to h inl' bar 'il i i1:.r|ipoii all ol'tlo-kev fi tl'('ir hrn i' tin oll l pmiliom i these too lrr is and Ti l "iili lillllv a binding,

:top for the ll' pin U21 while the spring lill t nd t hrow th arm ii'l downnard at ita i'eat rod. Him:- tin 3L and 3 are min-raid ioniotihd howlv o on th o -h bah. 3! it i idloethat .1drpreooionofoither f these llvll'li will a t in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 7 to rotate the rock shaft and so lift the rear end. of the arm 58 whereby the plunger 57 is lifted to an extent proportioi'ial to the :xtent of downward thrust oi the particular lever being actuated. From the ronstruction just described it Will be understood that the arm 58 is free to ewing upward relatively around the axis of the rock shaft when the keyboard is folded upward or in other words and perhaps more aeeurately stated the joint provided at the rock shaft; between the bar 58 and the lovers 5! and 53 will permit the levers to swing upward with the keyboard While thirear end of the arm bearing against the table or other support for the machine, artici later; at. the reek shaft with respect to the h rem 2 and 53 and lies in the position in: rated in Fig. 5.

l elaim:

1. In a folding typewriter, the eomhmzr tion of a main frame, a keyboard frame exiemion, a set oi keva carried by the exten- :-ion and movable therewith with respectto the main frame, one of the frame member aforesaid being provided with a pair of rigid. fingers while the other of said menn here is provided with a pair of grooves into which said fingersproject, when the frame members are in operative position and whereby lateral movement 01 either with respectto the other of the frame members i4 prevented, and catch means carried by one oi the frame. members and cooperating with the other to prevent separation of the linger and gi-iovrnirtions oil the frame.

:2 In a folding; typewriter, the combinat on of a rigid main bane frame, the front rormroi whiih are provided with a pair of grow PA. on he lower sari-are, a keyboard lramo exienaion movably eonneeted to the. main haw l'ranie l'oz folding purposes, said uxlt'ilii m havim. a pair of rigid rearwardly extending linrjera a, it-i lower rho-Farr fitting into aaid grooves when the l'XitllwiOll i in operative po--ition with reaper-i to the main base irame. and antomatir oats-b means eowet-rating with the several frame members to hold th ling-0|:- in v\aid grooves.

3, In a folding typewriter, the combination of a main ban: i'lame a keyboard frame exteirdon pii h-d t the main bane frame along in front edge and t'oldable upward around the ;:..\'il the pivots, one oi the llllbll members being provided with parallel g roorea on its lower .sillFtuto while the other of the harm membera is provided with pariillvl tlIE! voiipetatilig with the grooves in noroml operative position, and an auto matie spring eateh carried by the grooved member and engageahle over one of said lingers to lock the frame memimri-i from movement withi'eqiect; to each other around the pivots aforesaid.

4. In a folding typewriter, the combination with a main frame, a frame extension movably connected thereto and a set of key levers loosely supported upon the frame extension, of means normally spaced from the key levers but automatically movable into contact therewith to hold the levers from displacement when the frame extension is gloved with respect to the main base mem- 5. In a folding typewriter, the combination with a main stationary base frame, a keyboard frame extension movably connected to the stationary base for folding purposes and a set of key lever loosely fulcrumed upon the frame extension for normal operation of the machine, of locking means cooperating with the'key levers and serving to hold them from all movement with respect to the frame extension when the machine is folded, and means to automatically withdraw said locking means from the levers when the frame extension is returned to normal operative position.

6. In a folding typewriter, the combination with a main base frame, a keyboard frame extension pivoted thereto for upward foldin movement and a set of key levers loosely fuIcrumed upon the extension for operative movement, of a locking bar extending across and normally spaced above said key levers, means acting. upon the bar serving to bring the bar automatically into contact with the key levers to hold them from movement with respect to the frame extension when the frame is folded, and means carried by the main frame serving to automatically withdraw said bar from the levers when the frame extension is returned to nor mal operative position.

7. In a folding t pewriter, the combination with a main ase frame, a keyboard frame extension pivoted thereto for folding purposes and a set of key levers carried by the extension and foldable therewith with respect to the main frame, of a shift key lever carried by the frame extension, a rock shaft journaled upon the rear portionof the frame extension, the rear end of the shift key lever being journaled upon the-rock shaft, an arm extension connected to the rock shaft and projecting rearward beyond the vertical plane of the folding axis, and means between the shift key lever and rock shaft serving to cause the vertical movement of the arm extension when the shift key lever is depressed, but freely permitting the foldin movement of the shift key lever with t e frame extension independently of said arm extension.

8. In a folding typewriter, the combination with a main base frame, a frame extension pivoted thereto for upward folding movement, and a set of ke levers carried by the frame extension and olclable therewith, of a plurality of shift key levers foldable with the frame extension, a rock shaft journaled upon the frame extension and upon which the shift key levers are journaled, a rearwardly projectin actuator arm connected to the rock sha t, and a hub connector between the rock shaft and the shift key levers serving to cause the upward movement of the actuator arm when either of the shift key levers is depressed independentl of the other and permitting the upwar movement of the frame extension and parts carried thereby independently of the actuator arm.

9. In a folding typewriter, the combination with a main frame having rigid feet to support the same in elevated positlon, and

a frame extension pivoted to the main frame and foldable upward with respectthereto, of a foot pivotally connected to the frame extension and serving in normal position to support the extension in the same horizontal plane as the main frame but foldable into a position close again'stthe frame extension when the extension is folded.

10. In a folding typewriter, the combination with a main frame and a frame extension pivoted thereto adapting it to be operated upward with respect to the main frame, of a supporting foot freely pivoted to the frame extension, whereby when the frame extension is folded upward the foot drops thereagainst by gravity and when the frame extension is brought down into operative position said foot drops automatically into supporting position.

EDWARD KRUSIUS. 

